A Open Debate

[Lupetto]

Ok where to start

I've noticed that allot of people and not just myself at the moment have lost their license, or at least have had an unfair fine given to them.

My point is this, I've seen debate topics and lineup of people at the parliament house over things like “new net laws” and also “alcho pop laws” yet I'm yet to see any one debate over the new “revenue scheme” driving laws.

Ill give you a brief example of what I mean by revenue raising:

Scheme 1:

new laws state that if you are speeding over 10km the limit (quite easily done and un noticed if your focused on everything else around you” is now only a 1 demerit point loss offence, but to “pursued not to do it” they have doubled the fine (not revenue raising?).

So in theory you could speed consistently over the whole period of your license until you lose the total amount of 12 points. Now let’s say that on average the speeding fine is now $250 +VC levy $20 so a total of = $280 Minimum

over the period of “12points” your now coughing up a total of $3360.

*it’s debatable*

Scheme 2:

Ok let’s say you’re on your P’s

The same law applies to us, that is 10km over the limit = Double the fine and only 1 point… but as you all know, get caught doing 10km over the speed limit and it’s an instant loss of license (very easy to happen to un-experienced drivers and also even the experienced ones).

OK so you get done once and !BAM! You lose your license for 6months and pay your fine of $250 +$20 VC levy + $80 for breaching your P plate conditions. “Not a problem” you say to yourself, you wait out the 6 months and then you have to go back to Motor Reg office and re purchase your “learners” permit ($90 depending what state) you then have to wait 24hours to then sit your Learner to Provisional permit test (can vary to $120 - $200 depending who you through) and then you head back to the motor reg office and pay for your provisional license ($120+)

all you have payed a total of $680 (minimum) to basically start again from scratch and most probably get caught up in the same loop once more (if you’re like me and drive basically 7 days a week to work + visit your clients + be the only transport for your family, you can bet your sweet ***** that unless you’re constantly doing -10km under the limit that you’re going to get done some where eventually)

And to make matters more interesting > if you decide to debate the fine to the courts, and you’re eligible to do it (remember you have to wait 5 years before re pledging a loss of license) they will give you either a 12:30 to 6:30 curfew / or passenger limit probation rule… Break any of these and its either instant loss of license for 12 months or jail time (if not both).

Does anyone else here actually pick up that there is a serious problem with how the law is being policed at the moment? Does anyone know whether or not Police actually have a quota they have to hit on a daily basis which turns them from human (understanding that everyone is human and we can make a mistake) or do they become Robo cops where lenience is unacceptable and there no tolerance?

Does anyone here actually find it highly unfair? Un law fall? Or even just plain stupid?

I want your debate on this topic and let’s see if we can get enough people to actually take this debate further.

*note*

this is not a public roasting so I really don’t want to be abused over me starting this topic. I just want other people’s opinions and stories.

[matt-starlet]

dont quote me for it but i did hear from somewhere not sure where but to get onto highway patrol they do need to hit a quota of some amount not sure how true that is though. It is the stationary cameras that annoy me has anyone actually got done by one of them i think there has gotta be something wrong with you if you do, they dont move and they have heaps of signs leading up to it

[Lupetto]

dont quote me for it but i did hear from somewhere not sure where but to get onto highway patrol they do need to hit a quota of some amount not sure how true that is though. It is the stationary cameras that annoy me has anyone actually got done by one of them i think there has gotta be something wrong with you if you do, they dont move and they have heaps of signs leading up to it

at least they put sighns in your state -_- they have 1 warning here... and they are generaly hiding.

[DJKOR]

It is the stationary cameras that annoy me has anyone actually got done by one of them i think there has gotta be something wrong with you if you do, they dont move and they have heaps of signs leading up to it

Yeah. I don't know how people get done for those ones. You get three warnings that there is one there. First one to tell you speed camera ahead, then another to say speed camera 24 hours, then you have the multiple lines on the road to give it away. It surprises me how people get done for that.

I have a mate that was staying at a place that overlooks the Story Bridge. He said that on one night when it was busy, he could just see the flash there going off like every few seconds or so. If you get done by those ones, you deserve the ticket I reckon.

at least they put sighns in your state -_- they have 1 warning here... and they are generaly hiding.

Matt was referring to the stationary/permanent speed cameras, not the mobile vans.

[Leroy]

Whilst on your L plates, you are informed of what is legal road behaviour and what isnt...

... so (in response to your original post) regardless of how "fair" the fine may or not be, you have no cause to whinge.

You know every day before you get in your car there will be that "unfair" fine or loss of license if you get caught.

If you're not going to change your behaviour on the road, then just be a man and cop the occasional ticket and demerit points without whinging about it in the form of "an open debate".

Good day to you, Sir.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Leroy

[DJKOR]

I agree with Leroy as well in regards to the matter.

To add, sure the fines may add up to be quite a bit and it will always seem like revenue raising, but then again, if you were obeying the speed limit, you wouldn't have a fine to pay in the first place. If you were to get constantly booked and still had difficulty keeping on or under the speed limit, it's no ones fault but yourself.

Yeah they probably have a quota to work by, but if you obey the speed limit, then you wont be part of that quota. Simple.

My view on the subject is plain and simple. You get caught and you clearly know you were in the wrong, then man up and take it.

[Lupetto]

So if either you of you where to ever get cought speeding, even if it was for that split second that you where changing lane > or you just didnt pay attention I am to believe that you wouldnt winge or at least be upset? but rather take it on the chin and say "oh well easy come easy go?"

Im sorry but i really cant see that happening. I guess if your not in the same situation or at least been in the same situation you would find it hard to agree on the topic.

Ive lost my lisence once and i learnt my lesson from that, Unatentive driving can not be prevented but it can be reduced... a 2 second of not realising that your slightly over should not be hammered... Dangerous driving/erratic driving should.

[DJKOR]

So if either you of you where to ever get cought speeding, even if it was for that split second that you where changing lane > or you just didnt pay attention I am to believe that you wouldnt winge or at least be upset? but rather take it on the chin and say "oh well easy come easy go?"

If I got done for just 6km/h over (10% over in a 60 zone), or 10km/h over (10% in a 100 zone), I would still cop the fine and the demerit points.

Simple fact of the matter... I was exceeding the speed limit. If I exceeded the limit because I wasn't paying attention, well that's my fault then. I should have been paying attention, more so to the fact that there is a cop in the vicinity. Sure I would be a little upset, but I'm not going to btch about it.

I rarely look at my speedo, so I never really know what speed I'm going. It's not hard to maintain a speed, so using an excuse that it was only brief (and happened to be when the speed camera/radar was around) is not really acceptable. If you find it hard to maintain such speed, maybe you need to work on your driving abilities.

For the record, I have already run myself down to one point remaining on my licence... twice. One on my P's, and once on my Opens (one more single point offence not shown below). If I end up getting to the point that I lose that point, I'm just going to accept the mistakes that I have made.

[Guest]

I agree that if you are speeding/being a d*ckhead and cop a fine for it, then yeah it is your own fault.

I'm no angel, having lost a total of 12 points while on my p's and copping a 3 month suspension... but, all of that stuff was my own fault and I really have no one to blame but myself.

now, police defecting cars for absolutely stupid reasons, that's another issue all together.

[matt-starlet]

yeah agreed i wasn't happy that I got a ticket but hey I did fair and square cop it on the chin pay the fine and move on

[lateralus]

i think its amazing how some people can think that speeding is what dickheads do as its a major safety concern for other drivers, but when they get busted for doing it theyre not wrong, "everybody does it" and the system is flawed?

as everyone else has said, harden up princess! if you speed, then your reponsible for it. dont speed, and you wont be paying fines and thus not bitching about it on internet forums - simple.